Western sanctions provoke Russian regions to ‘turn to East’

Western sanctions against Moscow have resulted in Russia’s desire to cooperate with the East, Russian Consul General in Shenyang Sergey Paltov told Sputnik on Monday.

“There are new perspectives, in the light of Western sanctions, the vector of development of external relations for many Russian regions began to turn to the East,” the consul general said.

According to him, the Russian-Chinese ties have always showed dynamics and diversity.

“Recently, they [the Russian-Chinese ties] have continued to develop in a positive and more objective, practical manner…,” Paltov added.

He also stressed that over the next two years a number of major international projects is expected to be completed, including international transport corridor Primorye-2 linking Sokcho, Zarubino, Kraskino and Hunchun.

Since 2014, the United States, the European Union and some of their allies have imposed several rounds of sanctions targeting key sectors of the Russian economy, as well as a number of individuals and entities, over Crimea’s reunification with Russia and Moscow’s alleged involvement in the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

Russia has repeatedly refuted the allegations, warning that the Western sanctions are counterproductive and undermine global stability. In response to the restrictive measures, Russia has imposed a food embargo on some products originating in countries that have targeted it with sanctions.